Many of you are probably familiar with the musical talents of Stevie Wonder. I was first introduced to him back in the early sixties as a 12 year old by my adult sister, who wanted me and my younger brother to hear this new Motown sensation who was just a kid himself. He had signed with the record company at the ripe age of eleven, making him the youngest person to do so back then. When we first heard him at age 13, he had already recorded his first hit called 'Fingertips', which reached #1 on the Pop and R & B charts. We were blown away by his vocals, and especially his mastery of the harmonica.
Since then, I've literally grown up on his music. I've appreciated how he also grew up as an artist; especially the genius of his song writing. He had become a prolific poet in his own right, and seemed to transport me to a different place whenever I heard his songs. His melodies were not only soulful and rhythmic, but the lyrics were often thought-provoking.
He has been characterized as a 'once in a generation talent', who has won 25 Grammy awards, an Oscar for best theme song, honorary 'Doctor of Humane Letters', the President's 'Medal of Freedom', numerous humanitarian awards, recognized worldwide as a human rights activist, and the list goes on and on.
Experiencing this young prodigy back in the day was mind-blowing. Being impressed with his level of artistry was one thing, but the fact that he was blind from birth was even more remarkable.
THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL SITE
The example of Stevie Wonder's life may be regarded as a huge exception rather than the rule, and rightfully so, when you consider the path most of our lives will take. What's worth considering though is how he must have really put his lack of physical site in perspective to realize it was not a thing to be despised because he was without it, but it happened to be one of the things that distinguished his celebrity. His lack of physical site may have seemed a curse to many whose focus was concentrated more on his physical limitations; limitations he seemed to manage with relative ease by the way. But for those of us who were well acquainted with his music, and his character, it was the very thing that translated as the tremendous blessing that God must have intended it to be.
FOLLOW THE BREAD CRUMBS
The dynamics of Stevie's life, or anyone who possesses an unusually high degree of talent or proficiency at something, can probably be regarded as an anomaly in most instances; but whatever gifts or talents might manifest themselves early in our lives, the 'blood, sweat, and tears' needed to developing them should be given the distinction of giving power, rather than the suffering of penitence.
In acknowledging your own gifts and talents, and how you might decide to use them, I've made note of a few things each of us might consider putting into practice to make sure they become as impactful as they could be:
a. Count Your Gifts As Endowments From God The Father.. When you consider the multiple talents of someone like Stevie, or any musician, artist, craftsman, or academic who seems pre-disposed to a higher than normal aptitude for certain skills, it's an indication that they've been blessed with the raw materials to excel in whatever talent they've been given.
There is no scientific or logical explanation for how it occurs aside from the fact that it does. The deeper meaning for why and when it happens and the blessing it can be to someone surely deserves as much attention as we can give it. It certainly seems more credible than the belief some people hold to, that it can be justified entirely because of some 'rogue gene' within the bloodline.
b. Stay In Your Lane.. Don't deny your gifts by letting your focus shift from time needed to developing them with something you might not be gifted to do. Don't let social influences, or professional influences for that matter, distract you from developing those talents and growing into the person you are destined to be.
Seek out a community of people with similar skills and talents who can help create a sense of belonging, and who can also mentor you as well as collaborate with you to broaden your skills. It's the same attention you might give to choosing what college or trade school you wish to attend, that will provide the best chance of you getting the quality education which will help advance your chosen field. This idea is meant especially for late bloomers who may not have tapped into their own gifts until much later in life.
c. Don't Let Your Gift Become 'An Orphan'... When you figure out that your talent is something you can excel in, don't close the door on nurturing it because of someone else's jealously, or the fear of failing, or something more mundane like becoming overwhelmed with the need for acceptance. As you grow in them, the validation will follow from those who genuinely see them for the light and joy that they bring, rather than something they should shun because of the shadow they might unwittingly cast over the lives of others.
THE GOSPEL TRUTH
In the book of Genesis, beginning with Chapter 37, the story of Joseph who is the youngest son of Jacob is chronicled--From the coat of many colors given to him by his father, to the eventual conspiracy by his older brothers to get rid of him because he had his father's favor; even up until his rise to power in Egypt alongside Pharaoh.
What happened in Joseph's life at the beginning of his personal trial, is often times reminiscent of what occurs in our own lives, but the climax can be vastly different depending on where we put our emphasis while we're going through it.
Because each of us is 'an original' from a creation standpoint, we should start with that fact when we evaluate our self-worth. Whatever you're gifted with should never be a subject of debate, or a target for ridicule or jealously. Nor should you buckle under when confronted with any of those things designed to stifle you.
Wholeness should be viewed as a product of embracing what you've been gifted with, while rejecting the slings and arrows that may come against you while you're growing.
'Reach for the Stars' shouldn't just be a catchy slogan, but allow it to become a Creed, whose importance is as basic as needing to breathe fresh air. Its purpose then becomes a key source of motivation for you to become the best that you can be..
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